Combined sinus and mastoid headrest



May 10, 192.2; D M, GHR'IST 1,857,503

COMBINED SINUS AND MASTOID HEADREST Filed July 30, 1928 b Sheets-Sheet l r Jnuehfor: 17a vid K6711 1151.

w Affbrneg.

y 10, 1932- D. M. GHRIST 1,857,503

COMBINED SINUS AND MASTCID HEADREST Filed July so, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I In venfor: Javid Gkr'isf. l

Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES.

DAVID M. GHRIST, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA COMBINED SINUS AND MAS'IOID HEAIDREST,

Application filed m 30, 1928. Serial No. 296,265.

This invention relates to a head rest and clamp for use in connection with X-ray apparatus to obtain Roentgenograms.

.IAn object'of this invention is toprovide a head rest and clamp of such a character as to make it particularly adaptable for use in conjunction with or without a 'Buckey-Potter diaphragm of either the flat or curvedtype, and also to provide such a construction whereby the device may be fitted and affixed to such diaphragms and X-ray tables of various slzes.

Another object is to provide a head positioning device for use in conjunction with an X-ray apparatus to obtaincomparative stereoplat'es or films showing thesphenoid cells, ethmoids and frontal sinuses, as well as the antrums and mastoids foruse in the diagnosisof disease.

Another objectis to provide such a device having means for holding the head of the patient in various fixed positions.

Another object is to provide such a device with precision means for adjustingthe posi- 2 tion of the head of the patient.

Another object is to provide a head positioning device characterized by having pre- 1 cision for use in conjunction with an X-ray apparatus with or without a Buckey-Potter 3o diaphragm whereby substantially identical Roentgenograms of the same person maybe reproduced at difl'erenttimes for purposes of identification.

'Another'object is to provide such a device patient and operates to hold the head com fortably-in a fixed position.

A further object resides inthe provision of such a device which is simple in construc- 4 tion, adaptable to many uses, and operated with facility.

The foregoing objects, together with such other objects and advantagesaslnay appear,

(I constitute some of the major features of my invention, whichb'riefiy stated, may besaid to reside in the provision of a frame, adapted for use in conjunction with an X-iay apparatus with or without a Buckey-Potter diaphragm, which frame comprises adjustable cad supporting panels foruse in supporting that isreadily applied to the head of the the head in variously disposed positions, together with a cooperative head clamp. adaptedto clamp the head in variouslydisposed positions on said panels. The invention further resides in the parts and arrangement of parts, one embodiment of which is fully shown now in example in the accompanying drawings,in which F ig."1 is a top-plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; I Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line III- 111 ofFig. 1;-, a

Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentarysection on lineIV-'IV of Fig. 8; 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line V'V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionalview on line Fig. 7 is anenlarged sectional viewonline 1 VII-VII of Fig. 1:; I

"Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section on lineVIII-VIII offFig.6';' I Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View Online IXIXofFig. 6 j Fig. 10- shows the setting of the deviceas employed on a patient' to obtain stereo I Roentgenograms of the right mastoid;

"Tligfill shows the same'forthe left mastoid b o igg12 shows the setting for obtaining Ro entgenograms "of the frontalsyethmoids and antrums; thisgsetting;isiialsolused for fractures of the face; C

Fig. 13 showsth'esetting for fGrangers G line; I 5' s5 Fig. 14 shows the setting forsphenoid cells in the open i l lOllthV f f J Referring to the drawings more spe'cifical ly for a'detaileddescription and particularly to Fig. 1, the 'deviceis seen to consist of a panel B, preferably of bake-lite a secon d panel C, preferablyof bake-lite, and head Y clamping blades D, also of'bake-lite together 'With means for,coordinatingtheseelements into an 'eflicacious device to function asheree a inbefore set forth.

The, base line tof the frame I best shown in Fig. 7 may be either curved orflattofit either a curved or flat Buckeye Potter diaphragm, or a fi'attable surface. In

9 rigidly attached thereto.

this instance, it is shown as flat. To mount the panel B, which may be of any suitable material pervious to X-rays, which in this instance is bake-lite, the side members 6 of theframe A are equipped near one end with upstanding arcuate projections 7 to the outside of which are suitably attached protractors 8. The arcuate projections 7 .are provided near their peripheries with a screw threaded stud They are also provided with holes 10,1ocated at the center of the arc, which are adapted to rotatably hold the pins 11 of the members 12. The member 12 is adapted to be pivotally supported on pins 11 and is formed in an arc of the same radius as the arcuate projections 7 The purpose of this structure is to provide a means of clamping the member 12 in fixed positions. Near the periphery of the member 12, there is provided an arcuate slot 14, which is adapted to slidingly receive the screw threaded stud 9. As a means of damp ing the members 12 to'the' arcuate projections 7, a nut 16 is screwed down on the screw threaded stud 9. To provide for arcuate measuring of the angular displacement of the panel B, relative to the frame A, there is formed a finger 17 upon the member 12, which is adapted to ride over the top of the arcuate projection 7 and slidingly engage the protractors 8. It is understood that thisstructure is duplicated at each side of the frame and the panel B is mounted between the mem bers 12 in the following manner:

A flange 20 is provided at the lower edge of each member 12 which is designed to support the end of the panel B suitably secured thereto. For purposes of accuratelylocating the head of a patient on the panel, there is formed in the panel B, an aperture 21 suitably designed to receive the nose of the patient. I v

The foregoing arrangement of parts provides a structure whereby the panel B may i be placed at various angles with precision and held immovable in eachposition. At the opposite end of the frame A, the

panel C, which in this case in bakelite, is

mounted in the following manner; The end cross member 3 of the frame A is equipped with 'anextension 25 intermediate of the side members 6 upon which one end of the panel C is rotatably mounted as shown. at 26 with the other end suitably attached to an arcuate plate 28 as'shown at 29. As a companion mounting forthe plate'28, a cross member 1 of the frame A is provided with an arcuate depending portion 30, corresponding with said ,arcuate'plate. The arcua-te plate 28 is equipped with a projecting pin31 which is rotatably held in a hole 32 in the cross member 1, while the lower portion of said plate 28 Ihas'a plurality of holes 33 adapted to receive a spring impelled pin 34, which is suitably mounted on the opposite side of the is also inclined to the horizontal in the direction of its length with its inner end uppermost which when the panel 1s tilted laterally disposes it at an inclination both transversely and longitudinally. The panel C has an aperture 37 near the central portion, designed to allow the ear of the patient to pass through and thereby position the head. I

The tilting and inclined arrangementof the panel C provided in the foregoing paragraph is designed to compensatefor the shape of the head and to bring themastoids directly in line with the X-ray tube target when either the right or left side of the head is on the panel. I

As a means of maintaining the head in a fixed position, the device is equipped with a headclamping arrangement, which consists of the hereinbefore mentioned blades D suitablymounted upon the frame A. The blades D with the special mounting, I have furnished, are adapted to be used in conjunction &

with either the panel B or panel G, and may be made of any suitablematerial that is not impervious to X-rays,'in this case bakelite is used.

The ensuing paragraph deals with the mounting for the blades D.

On the cross member 2 of the frame A, an upstanding post 40 is formed integral with said member 2, and provided near the top portion thereof with a hole 41 adapted to re ceive a shaft 42. The shaft 42 isheld immovable in said hole 41 by means of a set screw 43. Slidably and rotatably mounted upon said shaft 42 are companion collars, 44 which receive the panel D therebetween and be clamped together by means of a screw 46. Also slidably mounted on the shaft42 between the companion collars 44 is another collar 47 having a projection ;48 provided with a screw threaded hole adapted to receive and hold the screw 49. Thescrew'49 pivotally retains the endof a link. 50. The opposite end of the link 50 is pivotally held by a screw 51. which screw extends through .a slot 52 in the bar 53, the bar 53, in turn being securely mounted on the post 40 as shown at 54and 55 and spaced away from said post to allow the links to slide therebetween, as best shown in Fig. 9. The screw 51is provided with a nut adapted to be t'urned by the fingers and serves as a means for clamping the links 50 in any immovable position. It is manifest that by moving the screw 51 up or downin the slct 52, that thecollar 47 is moved outhave extending arm portions 45 adaptedfto l made. This exposure is marked Left mas memos wardly and inwardly respectively,- on the shaft 42 and that with the arrangement as set forth, the blades D are likewise moved.

In order to provide a clamping mechanism' that will exert a pressure and still not injure the head of the patient, I have incorporated into the combination a flexibility of the blades D, which makes it possible to hold the panel C, thus providing a devicefor useswhich has not heretofore been possible.

In connection with producing stereo- Roentgenograms, there is provided a lead plate adapted to cover substantially onehalf of the sensitized plate or film upon which thepicture is to be produced. This, in effect, allows an exposure to be made on onehalf of a sensitized plate.

The lead-plate 60 is preferably of thin con struction and consequently has no rigidity. To overcome this, there is incorporated in the frame A thin sheets 61 and 62 of metal, preferably aluminum, extending between the side members 6 and spaced apart to receive the lead sheet 60 therebetween.

The stereo effect in the Roentgenograms is obtained by the following steps:

The patients head is first positioned on the panels; the positiondepending on the Roentgenogra'm desired. In Fig. 10 for instance, the setting is for the right mastoid. After the head has beenpositionedon the panel and the cassette containing a sensitized film placed under the diaphragm with one-half of said film protected by the lead plate, the X- ray tube is then moved untilthe line. 72 concides with the dotted line 7 3 at which point an exposure is made- The exposed plate or film is theniremoved and marked as Plate No. 1, right mastoid stereo No. 11, right shift. Another cassette is. then introduced under the diaphragm, one-half being protected byv the lead'plate 60 and the X-ray tube is then moved until the line 7 2.coincides with the dot- 'te'd line/74E This film is then exposed with the patients head in'the' same fixed position. This plate is marked Plate No. 2, right mastoid stereo No. 2, left shift.

The patients head is then reversed and the opposite flexible blade D is brought to bear against the back of the head. This serves to position the head on the left side in precisely the same position that it occupied when on its right side. The unexposed portion of plate No. 1 is then placed under the diaphragm with the exposed part under the lead plate. The X -ray tube is moved until line 7 2 coincides withline 7 4 and an exposure toid stereo No. 1,1eft shift. Plate us; are

likewise treated with theX-ray tube moved sothat line 72c'oinci'des with dotted. line 7 8 and is then marked Left mastoid stereo rNo.

2, right shift. These platesare then used in conjunction with an X-ray stereo-scope for reading. The same stereoscopic principle is employed in obtaining stereoRoentgenograms" of frontals, ethmoids, antrums and sphenoids.

The foregoing description deals with the parts and arrangement of parts. The closely following description will deal withtheapplication of the device tobring'out the major features thereof, in operation In Fig. 10, the device is shown in conjunction. with a Buckey-Potter dia hragm 70 and an X-ray apparatus 71. he'jhead of the patient K is shown as set for an exposure of the right mastoid. In this instance, the right ear of the patient is inserted into the aperture 37 of the panel C and only the blade D thatpresses against the back of the head is used, the other blade Dbeing thrown over to the other side out of the way. In Fig. 11, the left ear of the patient has been inserted into the aperture 37 and the setting is-consequently for an exposure of the left mastoid.

In Fig. 12,'the setting is for an exposure of the frontals, ethmoid's, andantrums. In this case, the device is reversed from the Po sition shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and the nose of the patient K is inserted into the aper- I ture 21 of the panel B. The blades D are brought to bear upon the sides of the head in a fixed position. The panelB is seen to be tipped at a considerable angle to the horie 1100 and exert a pressure that'stabilizes the head zontal which angle is readily and accurately shown by the finger 17 'on theprotractor 8. This setting may also be used in determining fractures of the face. Fig. 13 shows the setting for an exposure of Grangers G line? In this instance, the panel B is tipped in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig: 12, or seventeen and one-half degrees below the horizontal and the angle of-tipping is Y i also shown on the protrajot-or 8. In-Fig.--14-,-

the setting is for an exposure of the sphenoid cells in the open mouth, with the panelB in an'extreme angle to the horizontal or ap- The foregoing description serves to-brin'g out the salient fe'atures of myinvention. I

ingof theappende'd claims. I therefore reserve the righttosuch variations. 1

'Iclaim: 5

- 1. In a head rest,a frame, a panelniount ed upon said frame adapted to support-the head ofa person in a sideways position, means for rotating, within limits, said panel transverselyof said: frame, l and means for ing said panel in a plurality of predeter- 'mined points of rotation, and means for holding the head of the person in a substantially fixed position on said panel.

3. In a head rest comprising a frame,'a panel mounted transversely of said frame adapted to support the head of a person face downward, a second panel mounted longir tudinally of said frame and adapted to sup port the head of a person in a sideways position, and means mounted on said frame adapted tocooperate with either of said panels, for holding the head of a person in a substantially fixed position.

14. In a head rest comprising a frame, a panel mounted transversely of said frame adapted to support the head of a person face downward, a second panel mounted longitudinally of said frame and adapted to support the head of a person in a sidewaysposition, and -means mounted on said frame adapted to cooperate with either of said panels, for holding the head of a person in a substantially fixed position, said means consisting'of resilient blades operable to exert a clai'nping action upon'the head of the person.

5." In a head rest comprising a frame, a panel mounted transversely of said frame adapted to support the headof a person face downward, a second panel mounted longitudinally of said frame and adapted to support the head of a person in a sideways position, and means mounted on said frame adapted to cooperate with either of said panels, for holding the head of a person in a substantially fixed position, said means consisting of resilient blades pivotally mounted at apoint intermediate of said panels and adapted to'rota'te from the first mentioned panelto the said second panel, and operable to exert a clamping action upon the head of the person supported upon either of said panels.

6. In a head rest comprising a frame, a

7 panel mounted transversely of said frame adapted to support the head of'a person face downward, a second panel mounted longitudinally of said frame and adapted to'support the head of a person ina sideways position, and 'means mounted on said' frame adapted to cooperate with either of said panels, for holding the head of a person in a substantially fixed position, said means consisting of resilient blades pivotally mounted ata 'pointintermediate of said panels and adapted to rotate from the first mentioned panel ,to the said second panel, and means for moving said blades relativ'e to each other to increase or decrease the space therebetween.

7. In a head rest comprising a frame adapted to support the head of a person face downward, a panelipivotally mounted transversely of said frame and provided with an aperture adapted to receive and position the nose of the person, a second panel adapted to support the head of a person in a sidevways position, pivotally mounted longitudinally of said frame and provided with an aperture to receive and position the ear of the person, and means pivotally mounted intermediate of said panels adapted to cooperate with either of said panels to hold the head of the person in a substantially fixed position.

8. In combination with an X-ray apparatus, a frame, means upon said frame for receiving the head of a person face downward, means upon said frame for receiving the head of a personsideways, and cooperative means upon said frame for holding the head of the person in a substantially fixed position upon the above mentioned means.

9. In a head rest, a frame, a panel, a pivotal connection between said panel and said frame on which said panel may be turned longitudinally of said frame, said panel hav ing a facial member receiving opening and adapted to support the head of a person face downward, a protractor on said frame arranged concentric w ith the pivotal connection between said panel and frame, said pivotal connection including a member on said panel, means carried on said frame engageable with said member for holding said panel at vari ous positions on said frame, afinger on said member for cooperating with said protractor to designate the angular position of said panel, and means carried by said frame for clamping the head of the person in a substantially rigid position on said panel.

10. In a head rest, a frame, a panel inclined in the direction of its length, a pivotal connection between said panel and frame on which said panel may be tilted transversely to said frame into oppositely inclined positions, and releasable means for holding said panel against movement relatively to its signature. DAVID M. GHRIST. 

